NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

India has initiated the development of its inaugural National Security Strategy. After years of contemplation within the military and strategic circles, the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) is currently amalgamating inputs from diverse central ministries and departments to create the preliminary draft. However, the precise timeline for the strategy's completion remains unclear, despite several ministries having already submitted their contributions.

2. About the National Security Strategy

A National Security Strategy is a comprehensive document delineating a nation's security objectives and the methodologies to achieve them. This periodically updated document encompasses traditional and non-traditional threats and opportunities, instilling accountability among agencies responsible for executing these duties.

The Role and Scope of India's National Security Strategy

• India's strategy aims to provide a holistic view of the nation's security, encompassing diverse challenges such as financial and economic security, energy and food security, information warfare, critical information infrastructure vulnerabilities, supply chain concerns, and environmental issues.
• This strategy will guide defense reforms, ensuring strategic alignment and offering a roadmap to counter the identified threats.

Other Countries' Strategies

• Most developed countries with advanced military and security structures possess and update National Security Strategies.
• Notable examples include the US, the UK, Russia, China with its Comprehensive National Security strategy, and Pakistan's recently introduced National Security Policy.

3. The Imperative for India's National Security Strategy

• Despite being a recurrent topic in military discourse and strategic debates,
• India has struggled to materialize a National Security Strategy, despite three previous attempts.
• Increasing geopolitical tensions and escalating uncertainties have accentuated the urgency for a comprehensive strategy, as articulated by former Army Chief General NC Vij and other experts.
• Former NSA Shivshankar Menon highlighted that past attempts were hindered by political hesitancy, possibly due to the increased accountability in defense management that such a strategy would introduce.
• Varied opinions within the strategic community have speculated on the reasons behind India's delay in formulating a comprehensive strategy.

4.  Conclusion

The need for a National Security Strategy has long been acknowledged within India's strategic circles. As the country embarks on this groundbreaking endeavor, bridging the gap between strategic vision and practical military reforms becomes crucial. With the development of this strategy, India sets its sights on a more cohesive, informed, and proactive approach to national security in an era characterized by evolving threats and uncertainties.